1983 Grew CC restoration - Is it worth it?

[hardcore23]

Hi Everyone, (I've copied this off the thread I started over in the general discussion area, but feel it's better off in here)

Wanted to get some people's opinions on having the floor/stringers/transom redone on my old Grew CC.
Love the boat, it's nice and deep, rides well in rough Georgian Bay water. Great to fish out of etc.

It was the first boat my wife and I bought, and put some TLC into it to get a few years out of it. We've since up-sized but still have the Grew. Figure we really can't get enough money out of it to make it worth while selling it, so toying with the idea of having the floor/deck pulled and restore it to it's former structural glory and maybe even get a 125 Four stroke on it at some point.
I've heard anywhere from 3-12k for this kind of work, but really not sure. I don't have the facilities, nor the time to try and undertake this one myself, so I would be paying somebody to do it.

This would be a great cottage run-around boat if we could be so lucky one day.

If anybody has some serious fiberglass experience out there, let me know what you think.
I've attached a couple pics for interest's sake.

Cheers...
Darren.

 

[saltwaterbluefish]

Re: 1983 Grew CC restoration - Is it worth it?

Beautiful boat, love the wood trim on it! Are there soft spots in the floor to make you think that there needs to be repair work done?

 

[hardcore23]

Re: 1983 Grew CC restoration - Is it worth it?

Beautiful boat, love the wood trim on it! Are there soft spots in the floor to make you think that there needs to be repair work done?

Yeah, I think the previous owner dropped quite a few canon balls, and the hull is just flexible. Lateral impacts are scary, and we had the centre console/bench part of the floor and gas tank out of it when we first cleaned it up, and it was ugly in there... Lots of delamination.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1983 Grew CC restoration - Is it worth it?

DIY costs are hard to Guess-ti-Mate and Paying some one to do it is even harder. Stringers , Transom, and Deck restoration for your boat looks to be what would be required. You'll never get your Money back but if You like the boat and want to keep it, at least when it's done you'll know it is SOUND and should last a LONG time, IF, BIG IF, you find the RIGHT person to do the repairs.

 

[hardcore23]

Re: 1983 Grew CC restoration - Is it worth it?

Thanks for the feedback guys. It's not so much about getting any money back, I know boats are money pits from the get go. I know this hull, (family friends had one with a 200 Yamaha on it when I was growing up and it flew, and handled incredibly well) I'm pretty sure it was built locally at the Grew factory in Penetang, and like I said earlier it was our first boat so it's got some history.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1983 Grew CC restoration - Is it worth it?

This kind of work is pretty much DIY or forget it. The costs for having it done "professionally" are exorbitant and few ever seem to be pleased with the quality of work they receive.

 

[saltwaterbluefish]

Re: 1983 Grew CC restoration - Is it worth it?

Like hardcore23 said, it is tough to guesstimate the price. Depending on what material you use stringers, cloth, and resin will run you anywhere from $2000 to $5000. This depends alot on the stringer layout and if you use marine grade plywood or use composites, and epoxy vs polyester. If the transom is an issue, add another $1000-2500 in supplies. Labor is always tough to estimate with a boat rebuild because if you want it done fast and cheap it usually is not quality and if you want it done right it takes longer. Plus, rebuilding a boat takes a lot of work intensive labor. The main thing as Woodonglass stated is to find the right person, you may have to drive a few hundred miles, but to find a guy that will back up his work and will show you that his craftsmanship is holding up after years of abuse is important.

I would call a few local marina's to see who they recommend and also do a craigslist search under boats which sometimes lists guys that do boat fiberglass work. Although it is not a sure fire way to see if they are knowledgable ask why they use one resin over another, why they use that grade of wood over another, and finally why they use that specific oz of glass. A good glass man should be able to give you both sides of why use one over the other. Also ask if you can contact former customers to see if they are happy with the boat work done.

 

[hardcore23]

Re: 1983 Grew CC restoration - Is it worth it?

Like hardcore23 said, it is tough to guesstimate the price. Depending on what material you use stringers, cloth, and resin will run you anywhere from $2000 to $5000. This depends alot on the stringer layout and if you use marine grade plywood or use composites, and epoxy vs polyester. If the transom is an issue, add another $1000-2500 in supplies. Labor is always tough to estimate with a boat rebuild because if you want it done fast and cheap it usually is not quality and if you want it done right it takes longer. Plus, rebuilding a boat takes a lot of work intensive labor. The main thing as Woodonglass stated is to find the right person, you may have to drive a few hundred miles, but to find a guy that will back up his work and will show you that his craftsmanship is holding up after years of abuse is important.

I would call a few local marina's to see who they recommend and also do a craigslist search under boats which sometimes lists guys that do boat fiberglass work. Although it is not a sure fire way to see if they are knowledgable ask why they use one resin over another, why they use that grade of wood over another, and finally why they use that specific oz of glass. A good glass man should be able to give you both sides of why use one over the other. Also ask if you can contact former customers to see if they are happy with the boat work done.

Thanks, Saltwater. Apparently there are one or two local guys that wouldn't be afraid to take on a "project" and people I know have confidence in their work. So when the time comes, I will talk to them for sure. The boat is on a trailer and shrink wrapped right now.

It would be interesting to see any pics form iboaters that might have (had) a Grew 185 Profisher to see what they've done. These boats (I believe made from 81ish to '90?) are few and far between up here.

Cheers...

 

[Captain Gecko]

Re: 1983 Grew CC restoration - Is it worth it?

Pretty boat hardcore, love the look and the trim.

I'm new to boats, and my first one is also a Grew (237). From the research I've done, they had a good name for making tough boats with strong hulls, especially older models. Newer ones don't seem to have the same rep and the company is now sadly out of business.

If you did the restore it seems to me it would be more for sentimental reasons than any kind of investment, and there's nothing wrong with that. If you have the storage space, why not take your time and make a project out of it?

Good luck either way.

 

[Jakie2]

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